Floor plan and sketch of Franton Court studio, undated. Series 4: Personal: Residences: Franton Court. Hilla Rebay records. A0010. Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum Archives, New York
Finding 55: Hilla Rebay's Franton Court
March 24, 2011
Franton Court, located on Morningside Drive in the Greens Farms neighborhood of Westport, Connecticut, was Hilla Rebay's first private residence. Rebay purchased the 15-acre estate in 1937, and the property underwent numerous renovations in early 1938. Aside from the main residence, the estate had multiple buildings, including a garage and gardener's cottage, a small chauffeur's cottage, a large and small chicken house, a corn crib, a wood shed, and a garden house (built by Rebay). This sketch and floor plan most likely depict the studio.
Rebay purchased the property as a tranquil refuge from the noise of New York City and showed great interest in the gardens and wildlife of her estate. Found among her records are numerous receipts, correspondence, and catalogues from local garden supply stores, including recommendations for caring for the property trees supplied in 1939 by the Bartlett Tree Expert Company. A 1961 list of birds seen at Franton Court includes 74 different types; among them were a black-billed cuckoo, ruffled grouse, sparrow hawk, morning dove, snow owl, Connecticut warbler and an ovenbird. Rebay also purchased a summer home, Sunlife, in 1947, located in Jefferson Highland, New Hampshire.
–Shirin Khaki, Archives Assistant